Cougar sightings are up again on the mid-Island, and the big cats seem to be showing up more often near populated areas. One was spotted last week at Nanaimo’s Neck Point Park.
Stuart Bates is a Conservation Officer for the Region.
Bates says the reason is pretty simple; “Mother Nature’s math”. Bates says as the deer population grows the cougars who prey on them prosper as well.
There were also cougar sightings in the past week in Gibsons and Halfmoon Bay.
But, Kim Drescher of WildSafe BC says it’s actually been a pretty quiet season for cougars on the Sunshine Coast, and a quiet season for the area’s most common human/wildlife conflict – problems with bears.
Cougar activity typically peaks in August, but Drescher says we’re getting into a prime time for bears, as they start to bulk up for winter. To help people get ready, and encourage bear smart behaviour WildSafe is running a contest. You can get details on their Facebook page.
